Pilots sign Doyline High School standouts
January 18, 2007
Shreveport, LA---“Good players make good coaches,” states LSUS Men’s Basketball Head Coach and two-time Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Chad McDowell. If this statement holds true, McDowell’s future looks bright after signing two Webster Parish standouts from Doyline High School in Ta’Kevin Huey and Cody Walker.
Huey stands in at 6’1, 165lbs, while Walker measures in at 6’0, 170lbs. Under the guidance of Head Coach Johnny Jackson, the dynamic guard tandem led the Doyline Panthers to a 37-12 overall record and the Class B Quarter Finals in 2006. The future Pilots combined for 38 points in a 52-50 loss at the hands of Zwolle High School who defeated the Panthers on a shot at the buzzer eliminating the Panthers State Championship dreams.
“Ta’Kevin and Cody have been a pleasure to coach and I am very excited to see them graduate and move to the next level, and go to such a class program as LSUS,” commented Jackson.
Huey was named an All-State Honorable Mention, 1st-Team All-District, and All-Parish upon completion of his junior season after averaging 19 points, five assists, and six rebounds. His success on the court continued in the classroom as he posted a 3.79GPA.
The future Exercise Science major is very excited about his future as a Pilot.
“I love to play basketball. After watching LSUS play, I knew that this was a place for me. They are an up-tempo team who put points on the board every night, and they have fun doing it. I think my game and Coach McDowell’s style of play fit hand and hand and I am very excited to put on the Pilots uniform next season,” commented Huey who is having an outstanding senior season averaging 21 points per contest.
Walker also boasts an impressive resume from his junior season as a Panther. He was selected 2nd-Team All-State, 1st-Team All-District, All-Area, and the Webster Parish Most Valuable Player after averaging 17 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. The future Health and Physical Education major currently sports a 3.0GPA and is averaging 17 points per game as a senior.
“I am very excited to be joining the LSUS Pilots. Their style of play and team chemistry is something I think every basketball player would enjoy being a part of. They compete on a national level every year, they get great crowds, they play hard every night, and I can get an excellent education while being a part of all of it,” commented Walker.
The Pilots are very excited with the addition of the two promising incoming freshman, and McDowell is very happy to have them signed so early in the season.
“Recruiting players as talented as these two young men is always a battle, and sometimes that battle extends into April and May. I am so excited to have these guys committed and ready to join the Pilots basketball family,” commented McDowell.
“After watching numerous games, I never saw anyone at the High School level who could contain Ta’Kevin or Cody. I saw them have an off night, but it was not because of the other teams’ ability to stop them. Some night’s shots just won’t go down, and that goes for any one. I see a bright future for both of these young men who I believe have the possibility to make an immediate impact as freshman for the Pilots.”
